by Kevin Zimmermann
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) – A group planning a protest in front of the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office beginning at noon Friday claims that the Sheriff’s Office signed an agreement with ICE that authorizes local agents to carry out immigration functions in their jurisdictions, allowing them to share the information of all detained undocumented immigrants and facilitating their deportation process. The group called the Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement also says this involves people in our community being profiled and detained, and making a connection with the disappearance of over 3,000 children. Sheriff Cory Roeseler says that’s just plain wrong.
Roessler posted a lengthy statement on the department’s facebook page explaining that individuals arrested for serious offenses sometimes attract the attention of ICE, and when notified, the Sheriff works with them as they would any other agency. Any future involvement then is limited to serving paperwork on the individual, saving an unnecessary trip by an ICE official. Nothing else changes, he said.
According to their website, The Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement grew from a national movement that in 2008 opposed the trillion dollar bank bailout, and instead demanded that people be bailed out. They advocate for immigrants, unions and workers and oppose those they consider “hate groups” such as the Tea Party, the Bradley Foundation and Americans for Prosperity which they call “enemies of the people”.
Roeseler posted a list of the serious crimes with which the detainees in question have been charged. He said, “None of the subjects were racially profiled. These individuals were contacted after Law Enforcement received notification of the crimes they committed.”
He said the protesters haven’t taken the time to educate themselves and that they disagree with his decision to cooperate with ICE, but that, quote: “I have the support of our local community and that is what is important.”
Here is Sheriff Roeseler’s full statement posted on the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page at 9AM 7/8/20:
I wanted the public to be aware of a scheduled protest on July 10 involving individuals that do not agree with my cooperation policy with immigration officials.
The scheduled protest on July 10 has nothing to do with racial profiling. All subjects that the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Office works with Immigration on would have been in our Detention Center on serious charges. The Sheriff’s Office does not actively investigate immigration status, but those individuals who are arrested for allegedly committing serious offenses may attract the attention of Immigration and the Sheriff’s Office will work with Immigration just like we work with any other local, state or federal agency.
Individuals with Ice Detainers in our Detention Center are held on allegations of serious charges. Immigration notifies the Sheriff’s Office that they are investigating the status of persons we have in custody. Once the necessary paperwork is prepared, Immigration sends an agent, usually from Milwaukee or Chicago, to serve a detainer on the subject. Our future involvement is limited to having Correctional Staff trained and empowered to serve that paperwork, thus saving Immigration a trip (saving tax payer dollars). Nothing else changes.
As the Sheriff of Sheboygan County, I will work within my powers and abilities to make sure our community is safe. These individuals receive due process under the laws of the State of Wisconsin and also are entitled to a hearing once they are released to Immigration.
Some of these individuals that had Immigration Detainers have lived in our community for several years before committing the serious offense they were being held on. Some have even had contact with Law Enforcement and our Detention Center in the past and were not investigated by Immigration.
The following is a list of some of the crimes that individuals committed who previously had ICE Detainers placed on them:
3rd Degree Sexual Assault
Intimidation of a victim
2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child
Strangulation
Battery
False Imprisonment
Repeated Sexual Assault of same Child
4th Degree Sexual Assault
Exposing Child to Harmful material
1st Degree Child Sex Assault
Child Enticement
Child Abuse
Numerous Drug offenses
2nd Degree Sex Assault (Intoxicated Victim).
1st Degree Reckless Injury
Various Drug related offenses
Numerous other Felony Charges
All of these individuals were accused of committing serious crimes in Sheboygan County. The legal immigration status of each individual is investigated by Immigration. None of the subjects were racially profiled. These individuals were contacted after Law Enforcement received notification of the crimes they committed. Most had previous contact with Law Enforcement or the Detention Center and did not have their immigration status investigated. Not all offenses are investigated by Immigration.
As Sheriff of Sheboygan County, I swore an oath to Protect and Serve the residents of Sheboygan County. I want our citizens to feel safe, knowing that we are doing everything we can and working with our partners in Law Enforcement to make sure our community is safe.
That being said, on Friday, July 10, there may be protesters who do not like my decision because they have not taken the time to educate themselves on our procedures. Many of these folks may come from out of our county to protest but I know I have the support of our local community and that is what is important.
If you see protesting on Friday, you now have the facts to understand my decision. Thank you all for your support.
Cory Roeseler
Sheriff
Sheboygan County
